Buckle



Jan. 12 ,1926; 1,569,088

E. N. HUMPHREY aucxma Filed Nov. 18, 1924 INVENTOR Patented Jan. 12,1926.

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BUCKLE.

Application filed November 18, 1.924. Serial No. 759,548.

To all 10. 2 0211 it may concern:

lie it known that LIERNEST N. HUM- rnunr, a citizen of the United Statesof America, residing at New Britain, Connecticut, have invented a newand useful Buckle, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in buckles,the mam object being to provide certain features of nnprovement thatwill render the same Very durable. are provided to prevent thedisengagement of the buckle parts in an improper manner, which. ifpermitted, would tend to so bend or distort the same so that they wouldnot thereafter function reliably.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a view of the inside of the twoparts of the buckle assembled as in use;

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 0 Fig. 1; u

Fig. 3 is an edge view partly 1n sect on showing the parts in adifferent position from that shown. in Fig. 2. a

I have shown my invention in its pre ferred form; it should beunderstood that certain modifications may be made without departing fromthe spirit and scope thereof. In the preferred form shown, the bucklecomprises two face plates 1 and 2, which may be provided with anysuitable means for securing the same to belt ends 3- -3. In the formshown I have provided each plate with a securing means 4 commonly termeda ratchet, said ratchet being pivoted to ca" F; at the rear of each ofsaid plates New turning to the means for interlocking the plates 1-2. Itwill be seen that the face plate 1 is provided at the back with a springplate 6 which may be formed by a told at the rear edge of plate 1. Thefree or forward edge of the spring plate 6 has an upturned lip 7 forminga locking shoulder which preferably extends entirely across the back ofplate 1. 8-8 are stop lugs which are preferably struck out from themetal of the plate (3 and project toward the back of the front plate 1,said lugs operating as stops to hold the lip 7 spaced slightly away fromthe back of the plate 1, so as to provide an entrance slot or passagefor the insertion of the interengaging part on the plate 2, which willbe later described. 99 are stop ears which are turned back from theopposite edges of the plate 1, so as to stand to the rear of the springplate 6 and limit Certain features of improvement,

the outward swinging movement of the free ed e of the same, said earsbeing so positioned as to permit sufficient movement to allow said plateto function while at the same time checking such excessive movement aswould tend to so distort the plate that it would not function properlyas a holding shoulder for the interengaging part. Now turning to theface plate 2, which carries the aforesaid interengaging part. It will beobserved that the forward edge of this plate 2 is bent back to form alip or looking shoulder 10, which interlocks with the shoulder 7 whenthe parts are forced together. The bend which forms the interengagingpart 10 18 so shaped at its front edge that it may be easily enteredthrough the normally narrow space between the edge of the lip 7 and theback of the plate 1. When the lip 10 is forced entirely through thisspace the plate (3 springs into the position shown in Fig. 2, whereinthe two parts of the buckle will be locked together.

To disengage the two parts of the buckle the same are buckledbackwardly, as shown in Fig. 3, the plate 2 turning on the edge of lip7, the spring plate 6 yielding sufiiciently to permit the shoulder 10 tobe disengaged from the lip 7, as shown in Fig. 3. If an at tempt weremade'to separate the parts by buckling the same in a direction oppositeto that indicated in Fig. 3, the stops 99 operate to prevent thatgreater degree of movement of the spring plate 6 necessary to suchdisengagement which, if not prevented, would tend to strain the springplate abnor mally, and probably so weaken or deform it a $1 to render itineffective thereafter. lt will therefore be seen that the constructiongi'lards against any attempt to improperly operate the buckle which ifindulged in would quickly destroy its effectiveness. The stops 8 furtheroperate to prevent the edge of plate 2 from being pushed too far intothe space between the plate 1 and spring plate 6 as might otherwiseoccur if the plates were not brought together squarely.

lVhat I claim is:

1. Ina buckle of the character described, two plates, a spring platesecured to one of said plates, and located wholly to the rear thereof,said spring plate having its forward edge free, an interlocking shoulderat the free edge of said spring plate, an interlocking shoulder on theother plate adapted to be passed between the interlocking shoulder ingshoulder on the other plate adapted to be passed between theinterlocking shoulder on the spring plate and the adjacent rearsurfaceo-f'the'plate carrying the same for interlocking engagement, andmeans for limiting the range of movement of the free edge of the springplatein both directions, said means including a stop carried by the lastmentioned plate, and a stop carried by the 20 spring plate.

ERNEST N. HUMPHREY.

